West Lafayette looking to allow therapy animals

Darin Welker holds one of his ducks at his West Lafayette home. Welker has 14 ducks that he uses for therapy. The village is looking to change regulations regarding keeping farm animals in village limits, but Welker might still be in violation of the number allowed.
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WEST LAFAYETTE – West Lafayette is looking to change regulations regarding keeping farm animals in village limits, but it might not meet the satisfaction of a veteran fighting to keep his therapy ducks.

At Monday's regular council meeting, changes were introduced to an ordinance approved in 2010 that would allow therapy animals under certain conditions and guidelines. The legislation is expected to go three readings for public comment before a vote.

A review of the law came about because of resident Darin Welker keeping ducks he uses for therapy on his property within village limits. He was cited for a minor misdemeanor June 23. A court hearing earlier this month was postponed to Sept. 24, as village officials wanted to review the law and work with Welker.

Officials said that, if the changes would be approved and Welker would come into compliance with the new amendments, then they would drop the misdemeanor charge.

A sticking point considering Welker's situation is the changed legislation would allow for only two therapy pets per household. Welker has 14 ducks. He said he would need to review the legislation before making comment on it.

Welker does plan to attend the next council meeting to give comment. The council will meet in regular session at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 24 in council chambers.

Suggested alterations would allow a therapy pet with written documentation on the ailment and need from a medical provider. The owner must petition the council for approval and appear before a committee to review the matter.

Written statements from adjoining property owners are not needed, but council members are suggesting those be obtained to foster communication between neighbors on the matter.

Additionally, no therapy animal other than a dog would be allowed to exceed 20 pounds in weight. The property must be kept clean and free of nuisance to neighbors. A fence would have to be put up unless the therapy animal is something such as a dog, cat, hamster, gerbil, guinea pig or mice.

Anyone in violation of the amended law would be guilty of a minor misdemeanor. Welker, or anyone else in the village with a therapy animal, would have 60 days from the ordinance's passage to come into compliance before being cited.

Welker, 36, has a letter from the Mental Health Department of the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs recommending he keep the ducks, which were acquired in March.

Welker returned from serving in Iraq in 2005 with a back injury and post-traumatic stress disorder. The VA paid for back surgery in 2012 but not for follow-up physical or mental therapy.

llhayhur@coshoctontribune.com

740-295-3417

Twitter: @llhayhurst

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Army National Guard veteran Darin Welker of West Lafayette keeps 14 ducks in his backyard that he uses for physical therapy.